X-ray film holder



A. F. COTA X-RAY FILM HOLDER Filed Aug. 28, 1942 Aug. 7, 1945.

.Alvin FZ ota ATToRNEac Patented Aug. 7,v 1945 UNITED vSTATES PATENT e FFICE I' Y I 2,381,251

Xt-RAY FILMHOLDER Alvin F. Cota, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Application August 2s, 1942, serial No. 456,501 (c1. 25o- 65) 9 Claims'.

' K IThis invention relates'tofan Xlray film holder and .more particularly to a cassette for holding Xj-ray Vfilmfin service; The'invention hasbeen employedA in the X-raying of the circumferential welded seams of cylindrical or similarly shaped metal members.4 4

The principal object of the present invention is y'to provide an X-ray lm holder in which the vintensifying screens of the holder are in perfect contactwith yboth sides rof the X-ray lmfto produce a'sharp and distinct photograph. f

Another object is to provide a' film holder that is less kcostly to construct and economical to maintain. vA further-object of the invention is. to pro.- vide a lmholder with a cassette envelope .that can b e readilyapplied and detached and Acarried Without exposing the contained lrn vto light.

Another object is -to provide a film holder in which the lighter cassette envelope maybe re-v moved from the heavier mounting plate for transportation. through the vshop in. large numbers.

' In general', the invention employs a slightly curved metallic shoe ofsuitablesize withA a lead ,face on the. convex side to provide meansto catch stray radiation. Disposed next to the lead face is a `cassette envelope, preferably of rubber,

constructed to' enclose and hold a' specially provided flexible folder that contains the X-ray film'. Tliefolder providesintensifying screens in direct lContactl with the film andthe upper 'edge' of the folder'is hinged with pliable materialfto prevent light'from reaching the film. .Circumferential tension is created kin the cassette envelope in service fto maintain close contact pressure between thev intensifying screens `andtheX-ray film.`

"1, Anfembodiment of the invention isillustrated vin the accompanying drawing.

, VFigure 1 is a front elevational view partlyin section of the cassette envelope employed inthe vfilm holder of theinvention; l

'Figi 2r is a View taken'on line 2-2 of Fig. ,1;4 f lig'f; isa perspective view of the folderemployedto hold the lms in service with thefolder in a partial open position and a. filmtherein';

Fig- ,4 is atop edge' View iof, they X-ray film holder' showinga shoe and the cassette envelope secured to the shoeg'and j; k

'Fig.` 5 is a perspective view of `the metallic shoe employed.'

' vReferring tothe drawing there is illustrated an Xeraygfilm'holder comprising` generally a curved 'metallic shoe -I -tovvhich is attached-a, cassette v envelope 2 of a flexible, elastic material such as rubber. A thin flexible folder 3for containing an X-ray' nlm 4 is adapted to be inserted inside the cassette envelope 2. An arm support, not shown, properly positions the holder when a DCtllI'e -S "60 be taken.

Metallic shoe I is slightly curved'to stretch the cassette envelope thereon and adapts the holder side of shoe I to provide means for securing the cassette envelope 2 to the shoe under longitudinal tension. Other means to create circumferential tightening tension of the cassette `envelope over the curved surface of the shoe may be employed.

The cassette envelope 2, as described', comprises preferably a stretchable, flexible material such' as rubber that is molded to provide a generally large size pocket` 'I which extends nearly to the lower edge ofr the cassette envelope and yends a substantial distance from the vertical ends of the same. The-cassette envelope is closed on three sides and access to pocket 1 can only ybe made through slit 8 inn the upper edge. Other types of flexible cassette envelopes maybe employedif radial compression can be created in the same by circumferential tension.

The slit 8 of the cassette envelope is constructed in a tight ting manner to be normally closed,vas illustrated in Fig. 2, to provide a tight closure of the edge when folder 3 containing the X-ray film is inserted into pocket 'I.

The space or pocket 1 has substantially the same lcross section throughout.v If preferred, however, the pocket may be enlarged adjacent slit 8 at the top of the cassette envelope as at 9 to provide clearance for hinge Il] of folder 3 when the latter is inserted into the pocket open edge first. By making pocket I slightly larger at 9 the hinge of folder 3, which ordinarily requires a slightly larger space than the body of the folder, can be laccommodated Without spreading slit' 8 apart and disrupting the tight closure of the edge.

book, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and is utilized to enclose the AX-ray film 4to be inserted into pocket 1 of cassette envelope 2. The body I I of the folder is preferably of thin cardboard that is readily The jfOlder-3'is shaped similar vto an ordinary flexible to co-operate With the flexing of cassette envelope 2 in service.

The hinge IU of folder 3 is made of any suitable, light weight impervious cloth or similar material. The hinge operates to join the two body portions of the folder together and to close one longitudinal edge of the same when a film is inserted therein and the folder closed. When the folder containing an X-ray film is inserted within cassette envelope 2, thehinge I is disposed in the enlarged portion 9 of pocket 'I adjacent slit 8. The hinge and the closure of the slit 8 prevent outside light from penetrating to the contained film.

The outer surface of folder 3 is covered with a light impervious paint such as is employed in photographic Work. The inner surface of the folder is covered with a fluorescent material which is capable of emitting radiation under the action of X-rays to provide an intensifying screen to sensitize the lm in service.

At approximately the respective corners of the cassette `envelope 2 and outside the horizontal extent of pocket 'I are disposed the preferably square apertures I2. Cassette envelope 2 is suspended on shoe I by forcing the retaining posts 6 through apertures I2. The longitudinal distance between apertures I2 is slightly less than the same distance between the retaining posts 6 to require a slight stretching of cassette envelope 2 in applying it to the posts.

Stiifening metal strip inserts I3 may be employed at each of the outer vertical end portions of cassette envelope 2 at the outer edges of the apertures I2 to keep the end portions extended and to provide a reinforcement at apertures I2.

When cassette envelope 2 hasbeen stretched upon the convex side of shoe I, the X-ray film lies in proper position for the taking of the X-ray picture. The stretching of cassette envelope 2 onto retaining posts 6 provides suicient radial pressure to force the fluorescent intensifying screen surface of `folder 3 into perfect uniform close contact with both sides of the Xray lm.

' This prevents blurring and produces a sharp and distinct X-ray picture.

The cassette envelope containing the folder vvithk the X-ray iilm is easily removed after the X-raying is completed by merely slipping the cassette envelope off posts 6. It may the-n be readily transported to the dark room Where the nlm is removed. In the meantime, another cassette envelope can be applied to shoe I in preparation for further X-raying.

'Ihe invention not only provides a handy film holderl and one in which the nlm fits perfectly for good results, but it decreases expense and costs in the construction of film holders. It also saves on labor and time costs inthe handling, loading and transportation of film to various parts of the factory or other establishmentwhere suchilm is utilized.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed Within the scope of the Aaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A lm holder comprising a curved metallic shoe having means on one surface thereof to absorb stray radiation, a cassette envelope of pliable elastic material, means to secure said cassette envelope to said shoe in a manner to create tension in the cassette envelope, a flexible folder member adapted to hold X-rayfilm and to shield the same from light rays and disposed'for insertion within said cassette envelope,` and fluorescent material provided on the insidesurface elastic rubber, means to secure the cassette envelope to said shoe in a manner to create tension in the cassette envelope and to permit ready application and removal of the same, a pliable folder of substantially thin material adapted to hold films and shield the same from light rays and disposed for insertion in said cassette envelope, and fluorescent material provided on the inside surface of said folder, said material being radially compressed into close contact with said nlm when the cassette envelope is stretched over the convex surface of said shoe inservice to provide a sharp `and distinct photographic picture.

3. A film holder for X-ray film, comprising a curved metallic shoe having retaining posts at the respective corners thereof and a ssubstantially thin lead surface disposed on the convex side of the shoe to absorb stray radiation, a cassette envelope of flexible elastic rubber with apertures therein at th'e respective corners thereof to dispose the cassette envelope on the retainingpostsof said shoe, a iiexible folder of substantially thin material disposed for insertion in said cassette envelope and provided with a light Weight hinge of impervious material at the upper longitudinal edge thereof to prevent light rays from penetrating to said film through' the exposed opening in said cassette envelope, impervious paint disposed on the outside surface of said folder, and fluorescent material provided on the inside surface of the same.

4. In a film holder for X-ray lm, a curved metallic shoe having retaining posts at the respective corners thereof and a substantially thin lead surface disposed on the convex side of the shoe to absorb stray radiation, a cassette envelopeY of iiexible elastic rubber With apertures therein at the respective corners thereof to dispose the cassette envelope on the retaining posts of said shoe.

5. In a nlm holder for X-ray film, a curved metallic shoe having retaining posts at the respective corners thereof and a substantially thin lead surface disposed on the convex side of the shoev to absorb .stray radiation, a, cassette envelope of flexible elastic rubber With apertures therein at the respective corners thereof to permit hanging of the-cassette envelope on the retaining posts of said shoe in a manner to create tension in said cassette envelope and to effect ready application and removal of the same, a flexible folder of substantially thin material disposed for insertion in said cassette envelope and provided with a light weight hinge of impervious material atv the upper longitudinal edge thereof to prevent light rays from penetrating to said lm th'rough the exposed opening in said cassette envelope.

6. In a film holder, a portable cassette envelope of flexible material, a nlm confined in said envelope, intensifying screens in contact with the surfaces of said film in said envelope, and means acting directly upon said envelope for tensioning the same in service and thereby securing said Jsclzreen in uniform surface engagement With said 7. An X-ray film holder, comprising a base member constituting a, shield for one side of the film and having upstanding posts thereon for securing aicassette theretoLand a portable cassette 'A envelope of flexible elastic material having apertures registering with' said posts when the cassette is tensioned on said base member.

8. An X-ray 'iilm holder, comprising a base member constituting va shield for one side of the film and'having upstanding posts thereon -for securing a cassette thereto, a portable cassette en- Uvelope of flexible elastic material having aperturesregistering Awith said posts when the cassette is tensioned on said base` member, an'X- ray iilm in said envelope, and a, fluorescent sheet engaging said'lm, the tensioning of said cassette upon said base serving to provide uniform surface engagement of said sheet and lm'.

ALVIN labors.l 

